Monday, June 17, 2013

Over and over again, I am amazed at the many ways Mold Market's cupcake base and large bath bomb are being used to create fun designs. Our Sophie Soap Chick was on a soaping extravaganza the last couple of weeks. This is the first post of the many things I will be sharing from Sophie's soaping adventures.

I always give Sophie a shout out of ideas I would like her to try. When I suggested something Disney themed, she wasted no time. This project is easy enough for even the novice soap maker.

While these set up, pour the extra red color into the flexible jelly roll pan. Don't pour too much because you want it thin enough to be able to carve and bend it to shape the bow. Hand-carve the bow with the carving tool making almost a figure eight without cutting the center (use the white soap base to make an extra circle for the center of the bow).

Pour black soap into the jelly roll pan. Once it is almost fully set, remove and hand carve the ears with the carving tool. It took a few tries to make them look like mouse ears. Once I got four to match I fixed up the edges and pushed in the center to curve to make it look more like a mouse ear.

Melt white soap base and pour into the jelly roll mold for the buttons. I used the bottom of a small Chapstick to outline the perfect circle and then cut it out with the carving tool. Once everything was cut I began assembling the mice. I attached the base and head first with clear soap.

The ears and buttons were next which completed Mickey. I secured the white circle to the bow with melted soap and attached it to Minnie. I off-centered the bow to give it some character.

The rubbing alcohol spray helps with air bubbles than occur when pouring soap into the molds. These soaps will fit GoPlanet's clear cupcake boxes. Scenting the soap base is optional.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

“I don’t want that one, NeeNee, it’s
different.” Those were the words spoken by my seven year old granddaughter,
Olivia, as I handed her a handful of fresh cherries.

“What’s wrong with it”, I asked?

“It doesn’t look like the rest of
the cherries; it’s not the same color.” Without hesitation, she exchanged the
cherry for one that resembled all the others. “There”, she said, “now they all
look alike”.

It was an innocent, yet thought provoking, statement that
triggered a red flag. Might she be swayed to take the road less traveled in
life because it is wasn’t a popular choice? I wondered if she viewed sameness as a validation of acceptance within
her peer group.

I tend to be OCD, so maybe I overplayed the whole cherry conversation;
but one thing is certain, following the masses to “fit in” has never been an
option for me. I like the idea of traveling the road less traveled. There is
excitement in bushwhacking my own path in life and living with a fearless
desire to see what lies ahead. Of course, blazing new trails doesn’t come without
opposition or obstacles.

There are things to consider before taking the road less
traveled.

1.The road less traveled is narrow and often
lonely. You won’t earn popularity votes.

2.You will encounter plenty of people who didn’t
follow their dreams, or gave up; I call them dead soldiers. Avoid their
discouragement and stay focused on the road you’ve taken.

3.Don’t expect everyone to understand your
choices.

4.Failure is not the end. Those on the popular
track are waiting for some miracle to land in their lap. Guess what? Miracles
don’t happen without hard work.

5.Set your own challenges. Become the CEO of your
own life and set goals different from others.

6.Success isn’t measured by time; it’s measured by
experiences and opportunities that allow you to know what works best for you.

7.Understand that trailblazers disrupt nature;
they overturn rocks, cut down trees and move dirt. If they can’t remove the
obstacle they build bridges over or around it. Sheer determination cuts through
barriers and obstacles.

8.Taking the road less traveled is for leaders;
they point the way, take the risks, and have a vision for turning their dreams
into reality.

9.Know your passion and gifts. You need to know
with absolute certainty that the path you’re blazing is the right one for you.

10.Trailblazers create a path where none existed
before.

As
an online entrepreneur and manufacturer for over 15 years, I’ve learned
valuable lessons from the school of hard knocks, both personally and
professionally. One thing is certain; an individual deemed an odd-colored
cherry, regardless of age, has two choices. They can let sameness validate them or embrace their uniqueness and take the
road less traveled. I want my
granddaughter to understand she doesn’t have to be like all the other cherries
in the (peer) pack; or, stifled by other people’s expectations and limiting
thoughts.

When
the time comes for Olivia to venture out on her own, NeeNee will be there with
a shovel, ax, hammer and backhoe. She can count on me to mentor, saw trees,
chop thorny bushes and build bridges as she blazes her trail in life. And may
she find a bowl of odd-colored cherries at the end of her trail; a reminder she
took the road less taken.